The AS 4755 suite of standards provides guidance on the operation of various electrical products and the use of demand management by remote agents (being electrical utility providers). Part 1 in the series sets out a demand response framework addressing Demand Response Enabling Devices (DRED). The Standard includes provisions aimed at a range of pool equipment that may, from time to time, be nominated by an electrical utility provider for reduced power supply. When this occurs, it is important that the product is appropriate designed to ensure its operation is not unduly affected.
The new Part 2 in the suite - AS 4755.2:2025 - establishes a national framework for demand response communications between remote agents and electrical products used in swimming pools, including requirements for functionality, cybersecurity, documentation and testing.
For the pool and spa sector, Part 2 is particularly significant because it includes Appendix B Additional requirements for swimming pool pump-unit controllers as a normative appendix. Appendix B sets specific operational and safety requirements to support participation in demand response programs while protecting filtration performance and the safe operation of flow-dependent equipment.
Appendix B applies to swimming pool pump demand response controllers (DRCs) and specifies the operational instructions that enable remote agents to manage pump-unit energy consumption, including where the DRC is integrated into the pump-unit or provided via associated control devices such as time clocks, sanitisation controllers, or heater controllers.
Appendix B recognises that pool systems may include more than one controller and requires configuration to avoid conflicts and ensure the pump can respond to demand response signals (subject to “manual override”). Critically, it requires that flow-dependent equipment must not operate once the pump ceases operation and must not restart until the pump restarts.
The Standard provides specific demand response behaviours for pool pump-unit controllers, with conformance and testing structured around the pool pump modes addressed in Appendix B.
It also includes practical user-protection controls, including:
Manual override: where provided, limited to one activation per demand response event, for up to 1 hour.
Response times: required entry into the applicable demand response mode within 5 minutes of the target start time; and if a user switches the pump on during a demand response event, required entry into the mode within 10 seconds.
Run-time adjustment controls: where offered, constraints apply to prevent “make-up run time” from being scheduled in a way that undermines the demand response event intent.
AS 4755.2:2025 includes defined cybersecurity requirements and assessment procedures, including requirements such as mutual authentication, credential/key protection, secure boot and event logging.
The Standard also establishes conformity and test reporting expectations, including cybersecurity assessment and conformance assessment procedures.
AS 4755.2 including Appendix B is available from Standards Australia (online store).
Members are encouraged to access the standard via SPASA’s exclusive Standards Subscription Service, offering discounted access to key industry standards and helping professionals stay current, compliant, and competitive.